Arch supporter



June s, 1939. 81A. FREDA 2,161,565

ARCH SUPPORTER Filed June lO, 1938 WITNESSES INVENTOR Sever-11o l?. Fred@ Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to arch supporters and has for an Object to provide an improved construction adapted to keep the bones of the foot LI; the position in which nature intended them to Another object of the invention is to provide a supporter which may be made as an integral part of the shoe or as an insert and which will function to support the proper bones of the foot whereby they will be held in their original natural position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arch supporter which will maintain the proper longitudinal arch and also maintain the proper transverse arch at the group of bones known as the metatarsus.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional view through Fig. 2 disclosing the general longitudinal position of the supporter in respect to a shoe and in respect to a foot positioned in the shoe;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of an inner sole provided with a supporter embodying the invention,

.7 the same being shown in connection with a shoe and the bones of the foot;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 3 3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the supporter or` insert shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 35 Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates the supporter Which may be of leather or other desired material and which is preferably inserted into the inner sole 2 of a shoe 3. As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the inner sole 2 is split and the supporter I inserted to the proper position; also preferably the supporter I is cemented in place so that it will not shift its position and will be held in correct position by the inner sole 2. It is evident that the supporter I could be made as an integral part of the shoe or could bemade completely separate from the shoe and also from the inner sole and then applied or secured in place substantially as shown in Fig. 2. When the supporter I is..in its correct position it is adapted to function to maintain the bones of the foot in the position which nature intended them to occupy, whereby all parts of the foot will function correctly and without strain.

As indicated particularly in Figs. 2 and 6, the

supporter or insert is somewhat arch-shaped in general contour with one curved longitudinal edge arranged substantially parallel yto theinstep edge of the sole and with the remaining parts extending inwardly and longitudinally of the 5 shoe, whereby the supporter is adapted to support the principal bones of the foot. As indicated particularly in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the heel of the supporter starts from the point A directly in front of and below the interior aspect l0 of the base of the oscalcis with one edge extending to the point B along the longitudinal arch of the foot and below the plantar surface of the base of the first metatarsal. From the point B, which is round, the edge of the supporter extends 15 in an arc (inverted) to the point C directly under the base of the second metatarsal. From the point C the supporter extends in a convex arc to the point D under the base of the third metatarsal, and then in another arc (convex) to the point E under the base of the fourth metatarsal. From the point E the edge of the supporter extends in a convex arc to the point F under the plantar surface of the cuboid bone, and from this point in a convex arc along the inner aspect of the plantar surface of the oscalsis to the point A.

From Fig. 2 it will be seen that the supporter as just outlined is positioned to support the principal bonesof the metatarsus and also the bones of the tarsus, whereby these bones and the other bones connected therewith may function in their proper and natural manner. The fth metatarsal is not directly supported by the supporter I but is supported by the supporter I through the cuboid bone which, acting with the internal cuneiform bone and the external cuneiform bone, supports the middle cuneiform bone so that the arch or groove in the foot beneath these bones and the second, and third and fourth metatarsal bones will be maintained in proper shape to prevent any compression of the muscles or other parts of the foot beneath these bones. It will be noted, particularly from Fig. 2, that the supporter is so positioned that the highest point or thickness of the supporter is between the scaphoid bone and the internal cuneiform bone.

The thickness of the supporter at approximately the point G is usually about one-quarter of an inch though it could be thicker or slightly thinner without departing from the spirit of the invention. From the point G to point A the supporter tapers downwardly in an arch formation to a very thin portion at point A. From the high point G to the points B, C, D, E and F the supporter tapers to an edge so that the upper surface is curved, as indicated particularly in Fig. 5, and this curve merges into a decided taper as it approaches the edges except along the surface between points A and B Where the taper is not toward the edge but in opposite directions from adjacent point G.

Referring again to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the supporter extends beneath and functions to vsupporter I is concerned andare permitted to iliersubstantiallyflat against-the forwardpart of `the'inner sole f2.

I claimt An arch supporter comprising an insole provided with a slitted portion along its inner edge and a body disposed within the slit, said body having a substantially Vertical Wall, said wall being curved and disposed along the inside edge of the insole and extending from a point midway of the heel portion to a point at the rear of the ball, the outer or opposite edge of the body extending in a conVexly curved line from the first mentioned point to a point adapted to support the metatarsal region of the foot and body tapering transversely from the vertical wall 'to the other "edge thereof and also tapering lon- `gitudinally'in opposite directions from an intermediate portion of the body to the ends thereof.

- SEVERINO "A. =FREDA. 

